Demurrage
Demurrage
Demurrage
The term Demurrage comes from the field of vessel chartering (notably voyage chartering)
and refers to the period during which the charterer remains in possession of the vessel after
the period of time normally given to him to charge and discharge the cargo (lay time). By
extension Demurrage refers to the amount of money that the charterer will have to pay to the
shipowner for its extra use of the vessel.
Because the supply of a shipping container to a merchant has a very similar nature to the
contract of a supply of a vessel to a voyage charter, the industry refers to this container usage
beyond the time allowed as Container Demurrage. This extra usage usually entitles the
container supplier (usually the shipping carrier) to claim a certain amount of money from the
merchant.
In principle it can be considered that the assimilation between vessel demurrage and
container demurrage is correct given that both refer to the same concept, which is the late
return of a piece of equipment supplied by one party to another for the purpose of carrying a
cargo. However, the actual regime of container demurrage is still to be determined precisely.
Shipping
In commercial shipping, demurrage is an ancillary cost that represents liquidated damages
for delays. It occurs when the vessel is prevented from loading or discharging cargo within
the stipulated laytime (see Affreightment: under Charter-parties).
In container haulage, customers are given a set period of time in their contract to tip (unload)
their container delivery. Acceptable times for tipping are usually between 3 and 4 hours; time
spent on site after that is considered "demurrage". Hauliers will usually charge an hourly rate
for each hour after the agreed allowed time.
Demurrage can also refer to the cost levied by shipping lines to cover redecoration of the
container after use by the merchant, but it could also be the charge made by the shipping line
to customer for not returning their container in a reasonable time.
Railway transport
In railway law, it is the charge on detention of trucks (or rolling stock), either to the shipper
for holding the car (laden or not), or to the connecting railroad(s) while the car is empty and
returning to the home road (in either case, as a way to encourage speedy unloading and return
of empties to improve utilization of rolling stock).
In banking, demurrage is the charge per ounce made by the Bank of England in exchanging
coin or notes for bullion.
Currency
Main article: demurrage (currency)
Gas cylinders
The rental fee for a gas cylinder assessed by the vendor until the tank is returned.